The silver nitrate test is primarily used to detect the presence of halides, specifically chloride ions, in food items. When silver nitrate is added to a solution containing chloride ions, a white precipitate of silver chloride forms, indicating a positive result.
Out of the options given:
- Vegetable oil: This is a fat that typically does not contain significant amounts of halides, so it would likely yield a negative result.
- Ham: Processed meats often contain sodium chloride (salt), which can produce a positive result.
- Dried seaweed: Seaweeds can also contain minerals, including halides, and may yield a positive result.
- Cheddar cheese: Cheese can contain salt and may also yield a positive result due to chloride ions.
Given this information, the option that would not yield a positive result when performing the silver nitrate indicator test is vegetable oil.
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